“Hello, my love,” he whispered when he gave a gentle nod to her father, clasping her hand and raising it to his lips for a soft kiss. “I missed you.”
She flushed with pleasure. “I was away from you for little more than twelve hours.”
“Any time apart is a torment,” he murmured before lowering her hand and turning to face the priest. He kept her hand clasped in his, his gaze downturned as though he were deep in prayer. However, his eyes were partially open and his whole focus was on Aileen. On her quiet confidence and unadulterated joy. He squeezed her hand, flushing with chagrin when he realized he had almost missed his cue to say his vows.
After placing his ring on her finger, he faced her, a look of pride and awe in his gaze. “My wife,” he whispered as he leaned forward to kiss her softly. When he broke the kiss, she whimpered in distress. “You’ll have to be patient until tonight, my love.”
Her eyes lit at his passionate promise and she looped her arm through his. “Which means you will too,” she teased.
He laughed, walking beside her down the makeshift aisle as their friends and family beamed at them. He knew, from now on, life would be filled with wonder and delight.
Cathal O’Keefe lurked on the edge of the festivities. Although the O’Rourkes had made it known he was a welcome addition to their family, he continued to feel like an outsider. He hoped he would feel more like a member of their large clan soon. Unable to fight a satisfied grin, he watched as his daughter laughed at something her husband whispered in her ear as guests surrounded them to congratulate them.
As he observed her, he remembered when she was a young girl. Chasing after their family dog, insisting she would be a good assistant as she created a makeshift pickaxe out of a hammer with a knife tied on one end of it, or entering the parlor with a rucksack with a pillow stuffed with her essentials for her journey with him. It had been filled with a doll, a book and a spare dress. No warm socks, change of underclothes, or any of the other necessities she would have needed on a journey into the wilds of the west.
Leaving her and her mother had been the hardest thing he had ever done. Never had he expected to leave Aileen alone for nearly twenty years. He glowered as he considered the damage his wife’s sister had done, regret filling him at ever believing the letters filled with lies he had received on a fairly regular interval.
“Drink this, lad,” Seamus said as he handed him a glass of amber colored liquor. “You should be celebratin’ today and enjoyin’ the party.”
Cathal took a sip of the liquid. His eyebrows shot up as the smooth whiskey slid down his throat. “Ah, a fine beverage. Much better than the firewater I can buy at the saloon.”
Seamus smiled. “Aye, ’tis. An’ you should be in the center of the festivities, not lurkin’ on the sides like an intruder.”
Shrugging, Cathal took another sip of his drink. “You don’t know what it means to have had the right to walk her down the aisle today. To know she doesn’t resent me as she should.” Cathal’s brown eyes filled with regret as he watched his daughter, glowing with happiness. “You can’t know what it is to be given another chance.”
Seamus squeezed his shoulder. “That’s where you’re wrong, man. I know all about it. One day, when we don’t have the entire town trying to listen in, I’ll tell you about my seventeen and a half year separation from Mary.” He winked at Cathal as the man gaped at him. “Now, I imagine you’re lookin’ for a business venture in our fine town now that you’ve found your daughter.”
Cathal nodded. “What is it the men here miss?”
Seamus shrugged. “Besides the comfort of a good woman?” He rattled off businesses that were already present. “There’s a livery, a hotel, saloons, a bordello, laundry, bathhouse, and café.” He shrugged. “An’ my store of course, but I don’t recommend attemptin’ to compete with us.”
Lowering his voice, Aileen’s father murmured, “ When is the last time you ate at the café? The food is truly wretched.”
“Aye, ’tis,” Seamus agreed. “’Tis hard to find a good cook.” He studied Cathal who appeared deep in thought. “What are you thinkin’?”
“This town has very few women in it and too many men. I’d either make a boarding house for those stayin’ a few days to several weeks before they travel on. Or a bakery.” He met Seamus’s intrigued stare. “A good biscuit or slice of bread can make a man less homesick.”
“Were there bakeries in every mining camp you were in?” Seamus asked with a curious tilt to his head.
“No, but I lingered longer in the ones that had one. And even in the slow season, there are townsfolk who would be willin’ to buy bread there. Too many men can do little more than fry a fish in a skillet.”
“If women were fortunate, the skillet would be used to bash you over the head,” Janet Davies said. She approached them wearing a beautiful sage green dress and a mutinous expression.
Cathal froze at her voice before his face mottled red with his anger. “How dare you sully my daughter’s celebration with your presence?” Gripping and ungripping his hand, he fought to take even breaths as he faced the woman who had lied to his daughter for so many years.
“I have the right to be present to witness the debacle,” she said with a sniff of disdain. “She always was a headstrong, foolish woman. Took after her mother.”
Cathal smiled. “Good. I’d hate for her to ever have taken after you. I hoped you would change when Bertha died. That you would learn how to be compassionate, caring and considerate. What a fool I was to believe your letters.”
Janet sneered. “You always were gullible. And you were a fool. To ever have chosen Bertha.” Although she attempted to conceal it, her bitterness tinged her words and a longing filled her gaze.
He laughed and shook his head. “I never wanted you, Janet. All I ever wanted was Bertha. And to know my little girl was well taken care of as I searched for the fortune that would ensure she was always safe.” He shook his head. “But you could never overcome your resentment of me, could you?”
Her eyes flashed with hatred. “You should have chosen me,” she rasped. “Bertha was plain and boring and stupid.”
Cathal took another deep breath to calm himself as the woman he had loved and married was disparaged by her own sister. “No, Janet. Bertha was lovely, and kind, and soothed me in ways I didn’t know I needed soothing.”
They glared at each other a long moment, his breaths emerging as a soft pant while her cheeks were flushed red. Both exuded an air of quiet misery as they confronted the past.
Seamus cleared his throat and spoke up. “As your niece has chosen to marry my son, Kevin, I believe our agreement to be null and void.”
Janet paled. “No,” she whispered. “You can’t be so cruel as to deny me what I am owed.”
“I owe you nothin’,” Seamus said in a low voice. “I paid for your travel here. I paid for your hotel bill and the meals at the café. Your niece is married to a fine upstanding lad, which was your goal.” He paused as he smiled at her. “I owe you nothin’ more.”
“But, you stated in your first letter that if I had a need, you would pay me for my return trip to Saint Louis,” she stammered. “I can’t remain here.”
Seamus looked at Cathal and then Janet Davies. “From all I understand, you should have more money than I do, ma’am. I should ask you to recompense me for the expense I’ve incurred for your travel here.”
She stomped her foot. “That was to compensate me for all I endured.”
“No,” Cathal disagreed. “That was all for Aileen. And seeing the rags you were happy to drag her around in, I know you failed miserably in your duties. You will never receive another penny from me.”
Seamus nodded in agreement. “The agreement we made was for Aileen’s benefit, not yours. Mr. Foster is aware that you are now responsible for the bill at the hotel.” He smiled as Mrs. Davies paled.
“You can’t be so cruel as to treat me in such a manner,” she gasped, her gaze darting be
tween the two men.
“I agree. I’m not treatin’ you in a cruel manner. I’m treatin’ you as our agreement stated. If Aileen did not marry Declan, I had no more obligations to you.” Seamus’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “I’m only thankful the lass has married as wonderful a man by marrying my Kevin.”
Cathal spoke up. “And I need not support you any longer as Aileen has her own home now.” He smiled with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Perhaps there are establishments in town in need of your services. I know the Madam is a generous woman.”
Seamus fought a chuckle as he saw Mrs. Davies pale further. “Good luck in your future endeavors,” he murmured as he nodded to his sons standing behind her. “Allow Declan and Ardan to see you back to your hotel room. For you are not welcome here.”
Declan slipped one hand through her arm while Ardan gripped the other and they towed her away, preventing her from interrupting the gathering.
Seamus smiled at Cathal and clinked their glasses together. “Come. Forget that wretched woman and dance with your daughter.”
Aileen smiled as Maggie walked away with her brothers Henri and Lucien. Already Aileen had begun to think about Lucien as Luc. The young man didn’t seem bothered by the nickname and, unless told by Kevin, she would never have known he and Henri were not long-standing members of the O’Rourke family.
She forced a smile as Declan approached her. “Hello, Declan.” She accepted the glass of punch he handed her and took a sip. “I’m sorry if today is a disappointment for you.”
He frowned. “Disappointment? Why would you think that?” When she stared at him with wide eyes, he smiled at her. “My brother married the woman he loves. ’Tis a day to celebrate.”
She let out a deep whoosh of breath at his words. “I thought you’d hate me forever. And resent the public spectacle we created.”
“Ah, a little public humiliation never hurt anyone. And I know my mum meant the best. She’s a wise woman and would never intentionally harm me.” His eyes glowed with certainty as he looked at Aileen. “An’ Mum was right. You an’ I deserved more and better than we would have been to each other.” He looked at her with a calm acceptance before whispering. “I never loved you, Aileen, as a man should love his wife. I never would have near torn the town apart lookin’ for you as Kev did.” He reached out and gripped her hand, squeezing it. “I wish you happy.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, suddenly fighting tears.
She watched as Declan rejoined his brothers, laughing at one of Eamon’s jokes before saying something to cause Niall to giggle. Letting out a contented sigh, she realized all of them were her brothers now. Never again would she be alone.
Her gaze moved around the guests until she found her husband, standing beside his father, watching her intently. When she smiled at him, he relaxed and grinned back. She knew, no matter what happened in the future, the love and support they had for each other would see them through everything.
Seamus stood to one side of the festivities, sipping a glass of whiskey from the small cask Madam Nora had sent over for his private use. Although she would not attend, Nora wanted to congratulate him for his son’s marriage in her own way. Although he had feared Mary’s reaction, Mary had seemed touched by the gift even though she didn’t drink it. Nora’s kindness toward Aileen had further softened Mary’s estimation of the Madam.
Seamus nodded to Dunmore as he sidled up next to him. “I thought you’d have left for Virginia City by now.”
Dunmore shrugged. “Delaying a day or two is fine. Although they are a rowdy bunch.” He shook his head at the recent shenanigans of the newly arrived. They had had a shooting contest at 4:00 a.m. on Front Street and then had run around hooting and hollering as though it were high noon. “A bunch of green lads who won’t last a winter,” Dunmore muttered.
Watching as Maggie shook her head at one of the men in question asking her to dance and then retreating behind her wall of brothers, Seamus sighed. “For my part, the sooner you get them out of town, the better. I don’t like them around my Maggie.”
Dunmore nodded, his gaze watching the scene too. “The men are aware they won’t meet many women as sweet or good as your daughter.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And they resent the fact she has so many brothers.”
Seamus glowered at the men interested in his daughter. “I wish I had another ten sons then,” he growled, earning a chuckle from Dunmore. He glanced at his friend, noting the interest in his blue-green eyes. “She’s young and still recoverin’, Dunmore.”
He nodded. “I know.” He met Seamus’s gaze. “I’m a patient man.”
Seamus sighed. “’Tis the lass’s choice. But I have no desire for my girl to spend her days pinin’ for a man always away drivin’ a stagecoach.”
After sighing, Dunmore focused on Kevin and Aileen laughing as they danced, his gaze firmly away from Maggie and her brothers. “They will be very happy.”
“Aye,” Seamus said with a smile as he raised his glass to silently toast his son and his bride. “She’s a good girl, and we couldn’t be more delighted they are finally together.” He paused as he took another sip of his drink. “What haven’t you told me, Dunmore?”
Dunmore nodded. “You’re as sharp as they come, sir.” His voice rang with respect. “I left Jacques in Virginia City, and he seemed happy to be there. Since I’ve returned, I’ve spent my time ferrying men from down river and my first foray back to that city will be when I return tomorrow.” He paused. “I’m not a man who gossips.”
“That’s one of the reasons I trust you,” Seamus said. His sole focus at that moment was Dunmore as he waited for whatever he would say.
“Cormac returned yesterday. He said Jacques is spreading rumors about Maggie.” He met Seamus’s thunderous gaze. “That she’s a passionate woman, where one man wouldn’t be enough for her. That her family keeps her under lock and key and she dreams of breaking free of your tyrannical rule.”
“Lies,” Seamus rasped as he ran a hand through his hair. “Feck,” he rasped as he looked toward his daughter only recently emerging from the shadow of doubt and fear.
“Cormac believes he’ll return. Jacques is obsessed with her.” Dunmore met Seamus’s irate gaze. “Perhaps you should have had ten more sons.”
Seamus let out a stuttering breath and attempted a smile as he saw Mary watching him with Dunmore. “Keep an ear out for the man. I need to be forewarned if he is to return.”
Dunmore nodded and then slapped his back. “Enjoy the day, Seamus. Trouble will find you without worrying about what’s coming.”
Seamus nodded, watching as Dunmore moved with graceful ease through the crowd until he stood near the O’Rourke brothers, acting as another sentinel for Maggie.
Kevin carried Aileen over the threshold of a small one-room cabin near his family’s home. He slipped on the rug at the door’s entrance, catching his balance a minute before tossing her unceremoniously onto the floor. He smiled as she giggled, clinging to his shoulders. “Sorry,” he muttered as he stepped inside and kicked the door shut. “I should have thought about a hotel room, but I wanted more privacy.”
“Who owns this?” she whispered, arching up to kiss the underside of his neck.
“I do,” he gasped. “We do.”
She sighed as she continued to kiss him, her hands busy at work on his tie and the top buttons of his shirt. “You mean the O’Rourkes do,” she murmured.
His hands squeezed her back and legs and he nuzzled her neck, momentarily stilling her movements. “No, love. You and I do, although you’re an O’Rourke now too.” He gave a satisfied nod as she stared at him in wonder. “I bought it from Da. He had thought to sell it to Declan, but Dec didn’t want it. Not after …” He shrugged, the subtle movement, moving her up and down his chest in a slight caress.
“He doesn’t hate me,” she whispered as she caressed the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Of course he doesn’t. He understands how much we love each ot
her.” He kissed her neck and then set her down. “You’re bloomin’ in this dress.” His hands caressed her arms, to her hips and then back up again to cup her face. “You’ve always been beautiful to me, lass, but when I saw you in this dress …” His voice faded as though words failed him. “You’re gorgeous.”
She flushed at the appreciative gleam in his eyes. “Niamh wanted to do something special for you.”
He nodded. “And I’m thankful for her kindness. But, ’twas mainly for you, love. So you could see how I’ve always beheld you.” He frowned as her eyes filled with tears. “Aileen?”
She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around him. “Only you, Kevin, ever looked below the surface to see the real me.”
He smiled. “If you’d worn your beautiful dresses, I would have been fightin’ off every man on the steamboat.” He kissed her reverently, the kiss deepening as she clung to him. “I want you, lass,” he whispered breathlessly minutes later.
“Yes,” she murmured with bright eyes and no hint of trepidation in her gaze. “Show me. Teach me.” She arched her neck back, gasping as his nimble fingers eased open the buttons on her gown.
“I’ll love you forever, Aileen,” he whispered as they tumbled to the bed together, ignoring the distant sounds of the ongoing celebration outside, lost to their own passion.
Seamus sat at the wedding reception, Mary in his arms. He watched as Maggie stood with her brothers around her, ignoring the attention of the townsmen. Philip Dunmore had joined their group and he appeared the most keen to keep all other men away from Maggie.
“That’s interesting,” Mary murmured as she followed his gaze. “He seems a good man.”
“Aye,” Seamus said with a sigh as he kissed her head. “But I want her to have time before she feels pressured to do anything.” His arm around her waist tightened and he relaxed with pleasure to feel her in his arms.
“She will, Shay.” She tilted her head up and snuck a kiss against his jaw. “I think she sees him as another brother, protecting her. She’ll appreciate that.”
Pioneer Dream: The O’Rourke Family Montana Saga Page 22